Vision & Mission

To be a leading and inspirational contributor to a Singaporean sound that is current, innovative, visionary and urban—guided by Asian aesthetics.

We foster exceptional Singaporean musicians and provide them with an eco-system to experiment and create original music. As an arts company, we are focused on the development of a Singaporean musical identity, while promoting Singapore as a regional centre for the development and presentation of the performing arts. From performances to workshops and research, we offer both an entry point and a deeper understanding of Singaporean music to all.

The Teng Ensemble Ltd. is a not-for-profit charity registered under the Singapore Charities Act.

Our Story

In 2004, 'The TENG Ensemble' was used as a name for a pioneering ensemble group of young, like-minded and award-winning Chinese instrumentalists in the Singapore National Chinese Music Competition. The group eventually won the First Prize in the competition's Ensemble Category and impressed musicians, critics and audiences with their renditions of exceptionally challenging pieces.

Following the competition, some individuals within the ensemble collectively formed 'The TENG Company' (TENG), a company to provide for the creation and development of projects in Chinese instrumental music. Since its inception, TENG's members have continued to win international awards, accolades and acclaim. The company was also responsible for the restructure, re-training and management of the Anglo Chinese School (Barker Road) Chinese Orchestra till May 2005, leading the once ailing orchestra to a Gold award at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging 2005. Since then, the company's members have each taught, groomed and mentored numerous award winning schools and students.

The Ensemble

The core ensemble of the company, The TENG Ensemble, is now a critically acclaimed group that bridges the traditional and contemporary with the use of technology. The ensemble’s works take inspiration from Singapore’s heritage and are presented in a way that is accessible, informational and educational, and representative of Singaporean culture and a Southeast Asian musical language.

The word 鼟 teng is an ancient Chinese script for an inconceivable sound—similar to that of a drum—and is the most complex word in the modern Chinese dictionary. The company's logo is hence the calligraphic structure of the word itself.